The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

26.10.2012 Baranavichy: administrative charges for free food

Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus has been charged with illegal organizing of a mass event (Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code), after he arranged a charitable lunch at local market on 6 October.

27.09.2012 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemns ongoing harassment of "Viasna" Board member Tatsiana Reviaka

On September 18, 2012, Ms. Revyaka received a notification from the Tax Inspection of Minsk Pershamaiski District stating that she was “obliged to submit a declaration of income and property not later than October 3, 2012 for the period of 2004-2010, in pursuance of Article 12 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus 'On Declaration of Income and Property by Individuals'”. The Observatory strongly condemns this new act of harassment against Ms. Revyaka (see background information), which is part of a more general campaign of harassment against members of Viasna, since it seems to merely aim at impeding their legitimate human rights activities.

27.09.2012 Leanid Sudalenka and all his family members required to submit assets and income declarations for five years

The Homel human rights defender and all members of his family will have to report about all their income for the five years. The Savetski District Tax Inspection of Homel required the appropriate documents from Leanid Sudalenka, his wife and the son who is now serving in the army.

06.09.2012 Rechytsa: court marshals raid place of work of opposition candidate

On 6 September the marshals of the Rechytsa District Court N. Hancharova, A. Kandzinau and S. Lapata (all in the photo) came to a shop of the private enterprise Alida & Co.”, where an opposition candidate Anton Niafiodau works. They blankly demanded from the workers to given them cash, allegedly as a compensation of a debt.

09.04.2012 Brest Regional Economic Court refuses to consider entrepreneur's appeal

On 6 April the duty judge stated it to Mikalai Charnavus who came to the court to register his appeal against the unlawful re-election of the Council of the central market of Baranavichy (held by the administration).

06.04.2012 Baranavichy City Court refuses to bring case on Mikalai Charnavus's request

On 5 April Baranavichy-based entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus received an answer from the Baranavichy City Court.

14.02.2012 Mahiliou City Executive Committee doesn’t let people make copies of documents

The administration of the shopping center didn't extend the rent agreement to Mahiliou entrepreneur Liudmila Krylovich. The woman applied to the Mahiliou City Executive Committee and the Mahiliou Region Executive Committee. Three duty officials issued conclusions concerning her case. Liudmila was allowed to familiarize with the documents, but wasn't allowed to make any copies (which is necessary for appealing against the conclusions).

13.01.2012 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus asks prosecutor to annul results of re-election to council of central market

On 12 January entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus applied to the Baranavichy District Procuracy with the request to find unlawful the re-election to the council of the central market of Baranavichy, held on 29 December 2011, and punish those who held it.

05.12.2011 Mahiliou: entrepreneur Liudmila Krylovich summonsed to KGB

The woman received a telephone call from a man who introduced himself as a KGB officer. He wanted to invite her for a talk, but she demanded to be issued with a summons.

03.10.2011 Brest authorities ban picket in support of political prisoners

Viktar Chaikouski, Deputy Chair of the civil association of entrepreneurs Perspective, received an answer from the Brest City Executive Committee to his applications for authorizing a number of pickets calling to stop the politically motivated harassment and torture of civil and political activists.

29.09.2011 Brest authorities ban pickets

Brest city executive committee has banned a series of picket scheduled for 1-5 October by Viktar Chaikouski, deputy chair of the entrepreneurs’ association “Perspektyva”, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

15.06.2011 Anatol Shumchanka summonsed to procuracy

One of the leaders of the entrepreneur movement, Chair of the civil association Perspective Anatol Shumchanka received a writ to the Leninski District Procuracy for 12 a.m. on 15 June.

08.06.2011 Tax inspection hounds the Lipkovichs

The tax inspection demands the famous Belarusian blogger Yauhen Lipkovich and his wife to submit an asset and income declaration for 2010. Lipkovich received a letter from the tax inspection office on Monday.

21.03.2011 Maladechna human rights defender to be inspected by tax department

On 21 March, Maladechna human rights defender Ales Kaputski was summoned to local tax inspection. The activists say the possible inspection is caused by his civil activity.